System and method for monitoring cleaning conditions of facility using cleaning apparatus with tracking feature

ABSTRACT

Systems and methods for monitoring the cleaning conditions of a facility include the use of a cleaning apparatus with a tracking device. The tracking device is adapted to detect an operating parameter of the cleaning apparatus. In embodiments, the operating parameter includes at least one of the location of the cleaning apparatus within a facility over time, the movement of the cleaning apparatus, and the dynamic coefficient of friction encountered by a cleaning head of the cleaning apparatus as it traverses a surface being cleaned in the facility.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application claims the benefit of priority to U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/517,160, filed Jun. 9, 2017, andentitled, “System and Method for Monitoring Cleaning Conditions ofFacility Using Cleaning Apparatus with Tracking Device,” which isincorporated in its entirety herein by this reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This patent disclosure relates, generally, to cleaning devices andsystems and methods for monitoring the cleaning conditions of aninterior environment of a facility and, more particularly, to suchsystems, methods, and cleaning devices having features and techniquesfor improving the ability to monitor the cleaning practices within afacility.

BACKGROUND

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in2015, costs for slip-and-fall accidents to Medicare alone totaled over$31 billion. This total does not include legal or non-Medicare relatedcosts. The total expense resulting from slip-and-fall injuries in theUnited States is estimated to be approximately $100 million per day.According to the CDC, in 2008 more than 8.5 million Americans sustainedinjuries from an unintentional slip or fall—the leading cause of allnonfatal injuries treated in U.S. hospital emergency rooms. Commoncauses of slip-and-fall accidents include improper maintenance ofwalking and common areas, lack of cleanliness on floors leading toslippery surfaces when wet, and failure to clean floors after water orfood spillage.

Slip and fall injuries are frequently associated with wet floors.Customers typically encounter such wet floors in the restroom of afacility, and employees frequently encounter such wet surfaces in a workarea, such as a kitchen of a restaurant, for example. These injuries canresult in numerous general liability and/or workers compensation claims.

Conventional techniques for evaluating floor conditions are complicatedand expensive and are prone to human error. The cost and the effortinvolved in evaluating floor conditions makes the occurrence of suchreadings less frequent. This results in fewer safety readings beingtaken and a lack of alerts when dangerous floor conditions exist.

Most facilities depend on staff and janitorial contractors toself-report when they perform cleaning operations, typically via ahand-written log posted in an area designated for routine cleaning(e.g., a bathroom). This system is prone to human error and uncertainaccuracy. It also requires manual effort to first enter the informationand then to key it into an electronic format for management reporting.If a scheduled cleaning is not performed, it may be unlikely that amanager will discover such fact until much later, if at all.

There is a continued need in the art to provide additional solutions tohelp promote the cleanliness of facilities used by the public and toreduce the occurrence of slip-and-fall injuries. For example, there is acontinued need for techniques for improving the ability to monitor thecleaning practices within a facility.

It will be appreciated that this background description has been createdby the inventor to aid the reader, and is not to be taken as anindication that any of the indicated problems were themselvesappreciated in the art. While the described principles can, in somerespects and embodiments, alleviate the problems inherent in othersystems, it will be appreciated that the scope of the protectedinnovation is defined by the attached claims, and not by the ability ofany disclosed feature to solve any specific problem noted herein.

SUMMARY

This disclosure is directed to embodiments of systems and methods formonitoring the cleaning conditions of a facility. Embodiments of a kitfor reducing the occurrence of slipping upon a floor surface are alsodescribed herein. Embodiments of a cleaning apparatus having a trackingdevice and suitable for use in systems and methods for monitoring thecleaning conditions of a facility are also described herein.

In one embodiment, a system for monitoring a cleaning condition of afacility includes a cleaning apparatus, a tracking assembly, anon-transitory computer-readable medium, and a processor. The trackingassembly is configured to monitor movement of the cleaning apparatuswithin the facility. The non-transitory computer-readable medium bears afloor condition tracking program.

The tracking assembly includes a first tracking unit and a plurality ofsecond tracking units. The first tracking unit is associated with thecleaning apparatus. The second tracking units are located in spacedrelationship to each other within the facility. The first tracking unitis configured to wirelessly emit a location signal. Each second trackingunit configured to interact with the first tracking unit to detect whenthe cleaning apparatus is within a detection area of the respectivesecond tracking unit. The second tracking units are configured totransmit location data concerning the cleaning apparatus.

The processor is in operable arrangement with the second tracking unitsto receive the location data and in operable arrangement with thenon-transitory, computer-readable medium. The processor is configured toexecute the floor condition tracking program contained on thenon-transitory computer-readable medium. The floor condition trackingprogram includes a tracking module configured to analyze the locationdata from the second tracking units to determine whether a predeterminedcleaning operation was performed within a specified time schedule.

In another aspect, an embodiment of a method of monitoring a cleaningcondition of a facility includes moving a cleaning apparatus upon asurface within the facility. A sensor is used to measure a condition ofthe surface upon which the cleaning apparatus is moving. The sensorgenerates a condition signal indicative of the condition measured by thesensor. The condition signal is transmitted to a processor. Theprocessor is used to execute computer executable instructions stored ona non-transitory computer-readable medium to determine whether aparameter of the surface is within a predetermined range based upon thecondition signal.

In still another aspect, an embodiment of a cleaning apparatus includesa scrubbing member, a sensor, and a communication device. The sensor isconfigured to measure a condition of a surface upon which the scrubbingmember moves. The sensor is configured to generate a condition signalindicative of the condition measured by the sensor. The communicationdevice is in electrical communication with the sensor to receive thecondition signal. The communication device is configured to transmit thecondition signal to a remote receiver.

As will be appreciated, the principles relating to monitoring thecleaning conditions of a facility and reducing the occurrence ofslippery floor conditions disclosed herein are capable of being carriedout in other and different embodiments, and capable of being modified invarious respects. Accordingly, it is to be understood that both theforegoing general description and the following detailed description areexemplary and explanatory only and do not restrict the scope of theappended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed incolor. Copies of this patent or patent application publication withcolor drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and paymentof the necessary fee.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a system formonitoring the cleaning conditions of a facility which is constructedaccording to principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is another schematic diagram of the system for monitoring thecleaning conditions of a facility of FIG. 1, illustrating a mobile appdisplayed via a cellular phone interconnected with a database ofreadings taken from an embodiment of a cleaning apparatus with atracking device constructed according to principles of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of equipment suitable for use in thesystem of FIG. 1 adapted to be used to identify which one of a pluralityof operators is conducting a cleaning and/or inspecting operation.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of a system formonitoring the cleaning conditions of a facility which is constructedaccording to principles of the present disclosure, and which includes anembodiment of an inspection monitoring feature.

FIG. 5 is a view of an embodiment of a graphical user interface suitablefor use with a floor condition tracking application constructedaccording to principles of the present disclosure, illustrating a seriesof proximity readings taken by a beacon with respect to the locationtracking device mounted to a cleaning apparatus constructed according toprinciples of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a view of another embodiment of a graphical user interfacesuitable for use with a floor condition tracking application constructedaccording to principles of the present disclosure, illustratingdashboard details determined by a floor condition tracking applicationconstructed according to principles of the present disclosure including:tracked cleaning time in which the cleaning apparatus was being movedabout the facility; the areas of the facility over which the cleaningapparatus was moved during the cleaning time; a cleaning score computedbased upon the values of at least one of cleaning time and cleaning areain relation to a predetermined formula, and a trajectory of thefacility's cleaning index performance over time.

FIG. 7 is a view of another embodiment of a graphical user interfacesuitable for use with a floor condition tracking application constructedaccording to principles of the present disclosure, illustratingdashboard details determined by a floor condition tracking applicationconstructed according to principles of the present disclosure including:the tracked cleaning start time, the tracked cleaning end time, and apictorial representation of the areas cleaned during the cleaning time.

FIG. 8 is a view of still another embodiment of a graphical userinterface suitable for use with a floor condition tracking applicationconstructed according to principles of the present disclosure,illustrating dashboard details determined by a floor condition trackingapplication constructed according to principles of the presentdisclosure for a number of facilities distributed over a geographicalregion (e.g., over the United States of America).

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a cleaning apparatusconstructed according to principles of the present disclosure which issuitable for use in the system for monitoring the cleaning conditions ofa facility of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is an enlarged detail view of an embodiment of a cleaning headin the form of a deck brush which is suitable for use in a cleaningapparatus constructed according to principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a system formonitoring the cleaning conditions of a facility which is constructedaccording to principles of the present disclosure, and including anembodiment of a cleaning apparatus constructed according to principlesof the present disclosure which includes a tracking device in the formof an accelerometer to determine when the cleaning apparatus is inmotion.

FIG. 12 is a view of an embodiment of a graphical user interfacesuitable for use with a floor condition tracking application constructedaccording to principles of the present disclosure, illustrating a seriesof movement readings taken by an accelerometer mounted to a cleaningapparatus constructed according to principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a top view of an embodiment of a head of a cleaning apparatusadapted for use in the system of FIG. 14 to calculate the dynamiccoefficient of friction of the floor surface over which the cleaningapparatus is traversing.

FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the head of the cleaning apparatus of FIG.13.

FIG. 15 is a view of an embodiment of a graphical user interfacesuitable for use with a floor condition tracking application constructedaccording to principles of the present disclosure, illustrating a seriesof strain sensor readings taken by the head of the cleaning apparatus ofFIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a view of an embodiment of a graphical user interfacesuitable for use with a floor condition tracking application constructedaccording to principles of the present disclosure, illustratingdashboard details determined by a floor condition tracking applicationconstructed according to principles of the present disclosure includingthe coefficient of friction readings determined by the floor conditiontracking application based upon the strain sensor readings taken by thehead of the cleaning apparatus of FIG. 13 and the time when and theplace where the strain sensor readings were taken.

FIG. 17 is a view of an embodiment of a graphical user interfacesuitable for use with a floor condition tracking application constructedaccording to principles of the present disclosure, illustrating an alertmessage sent by the floor condition tracking application when the floorcondition tracking application determines an area of the floor of thefacility has a coefficient of friction that is below a predeterminedthreshold based upon the strain sensor readings taken by the head of thecleaning apparatus of FIG. 13.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of acomputer-implemented system for monitoring the cleaning conditions of afacility constructed according to principles of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of systems and methods for monitoring the cleaningconditions of a facility are described herein. Embodiments of a kit forreducing the occurrence of slipping upon a floor surface are describedherein. Embodiments of a cleaning apparatus having a tracking device andsuitable for use in systems and methods for monitoring the cleaningconditions of a facility are also described herein. Further andalternative aspects and features of the disclosed principles will beappreciated from the following detailed description and the accompanyingdrawings.

Embodiments of systems and methods for monitoring the cleaningconditions of a facility constructed according to principles of thepresent disclosure can be used to improve the cleanliness of a facilityand to reduce the occurrence of slip-and-fall accidents caused by poorfloor conditions. Embodiments of systems and methods for monitoring thecleaning conditions of a facility following principles of the presentdisclosure can be used to reduce the occurrence of slippery floorconditions at the facility by monitoring for the regular practice ofcleaning operations according to a predetermined schedule and/orcleaning regime. In embodiments, a cleaning apparatus is equipped with atracking device to monitor at least one of the location of the cleaningapparatus within the facility, the movement of the cleaning apparatusabout the facility, and the dynamic coefficient of friction encounteredby the cleaning head of the cleaning apparatus as it traverses over aflooring surface during a cleaning operation. The ability tosubstantially continuously monitor the use of the cleaning apparatus andrecord dynamic coefficient of friction (DCOF) data can help make thecommon use space of a facility safer where slippery floor conditions areless likely to exist.

Embodiments of systems and methods for monitoring the cleaningconditions of a facility following principles of the present disclosurecan provide a slip reduction service (SRS) via a tracking device-enabledservice that automatically reports floor conditions and cleaningoperation parameters (such as, length and location of cleaningoperation). Cleaning operation data records can be transmitted via asuitable Internet-of-things type connection, as one skilled in the artwill appreciate, and stored in a cloud-based platform allowing forimproved monitoring of cleaning conditions at a facility and bettermanagement of safety conditions, as a result. Continuous monitoring ofcleaning operations can provide more accurate records and reduce theoccurrence of slip-and-fall accidents.

Embodiments of a system for monitoring the cleaning conditions of afacility following principles of the present disclosure can be used totrack the location within the facility that is being cleaned.Embodiments of a system for monitoring the cleaning conditions of afacility following principles of the present disclosure can be used toauthenticate the identity of the operator performing the cleaningoperation. Embodiments of a system for monitoring the cleaningconditions of a facility following principles of the present disclosurecan be used to alert a manager when a specified cleaning operation hasnot been performed by a given time (or within a given frequency) and/orwithin a given area of the facility. In embodiments, the system caninclude at least one cleaning apparatus which can be any suitablecleaning implement, such as, a broom, a brush, a mop, a duster, apropelled sweeper, an automatic floor scrubber, etc.

Embodiments of a system for monitoring the cleaning conditions of afacility following principles of the present disclosure can be used tomeasure the floor condition through the dynamic coefficient of friction.Embodiments of a system for monitoring the cleaning conditions of afacility following principles of the present disclosure can be used toalert a manager when the floor conditions fall outside of a specifiedacceptable range (e.g., the measured dynamic coefficient of frictionfalls below a predetermined value for that particular area of thefacility).

Embodiments of a system for monitoring the cleaning conditions of afacility following principles of the present disclosure can include acentral, cloud-based management system for analysis of the cleaningconditions of a given facility or over a number of different facilitieswithin a designated region. Embodiments of a system for monitoring thecleaning conditions of a facility following principles of the presentdisclosure can include a suitable data storage system for storingdetailed cleaning operation data logs for a given facility to tracktrends and monitor the cleaning conditions of the facility against ahistorical trajectory. In embodiments, more and better qualityinformation on floor conditions and cleaning operations can be collectedby lowering the cost and complexity of obtaining the cleaning datarelative to other techniques.

It can also alert the store management if the floor is unsafe (e.g., dueto a low coefficient of friction reading) and needs attention. Byobtaining cleaning condition data more frequently and/or on asubstantially continuous basis can help a manager respond faster tofloor condition issues that require attention, such as to mitigate aslipper floor condition.

Embodiments of a method for monitoring the cleaning conditions of afacility following principles of the present disclosure can be used tohelp reduce the chances of human error in obtaining cleaning data andthe false reporting of cleaning operations. The cleaning data iscaptured and stored automatically without human intervention.

Embodiments of a system for monitoring the cleaning conditions of afacility following principles of the present disclosure can be used tomonitor cleaning operations within a facility. This monitors thecleaning of the facility to track whether a specified cleaning operationwas performed on time and in the right areas. In embodiments, the systemis adapted to track the identity of the operator who performed aparticular cleaning operation. The system captures details of when thecleaning was performed automatically. It also can issue an automaticalert to a manager (e.g., via an automatically-prepared text message)informing the manager when a scheduled cleaning operation was notperformed.

The Figures show a number of different embodiments of a system formonitoring the cleaning conditions of a facility constructed accordingto principles of the present disclosure. The Figures also showembodiments of a cleaning apparatus constructed according to principlesof the present disclosure. The system can reduce the manual effortexpended to record and report the occurrence of cleaning operations andthe floor conditions (e.g., via friction readings).

In embodiments, a system for monitoring the cleaning conditions of afacility constructed according to principles of the present disclosurecan include a cleaning apparatus with a tracking device mounted thereto,a plurality of user identification devices to identify which one of aplurality of operators is performing a given cleaning operation, aplurality of beacons adapted to track the location of the cleaningapparatus throughout the facility, a computer environment adapted tocollect cleaning data from the facility and to monitor the cleaningconditions of the facility based upon the cleaning data it receivestherefrom, and a suitable bridge for communicating cleaning data fromthe facility to the computing environment. In embodiments, a system formonitoring the cleaning conditions of a facility constructed accordingto principles of the present disclosure can have different arrangementsas one skilled in the art will appreciate in view of the presentdisclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, in one embodiment of a system 21 for monitoring acleaning condition of a facility 22 constructed according to principlesof the present disclosure, the system includes a cleaning apparatus 25,a tracking assembly 27, a non-transitory computer-readable medium 29,and a processor 30. The tracking assembly 27 is configured to monitormovement of the cleaning apparatus within the facility 22. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium 29 bears a floor conditiontracking program.

The tracking assembly 27 includes a first tracking unit 31 and aplurality of second tracking units 32. The first tracking unit 31 isassociated with the cleaning apparatus 25. The second tracking units 32are located in spaced relationship to each other within the facility.The first tracking unit 31 is configured to wirelessly emit a locationsignal. Each second tracking unit 32 is configured to interact with thefirst tracking unit 31 to detect when the cleaning apparatus 25 iswithin a detection area of the respective second tracking unit 32. Thesecond tracking units 32 are configured to transmit location dataconcerning the cleaning apparatus 25.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first tracking unit 31 is mounted tothe cleaning apparatus 25. In other embodiments, the first tracking unit31 can also be in the form of a wearable communicator worn by theoperator using the cleaning apparatus 25. The second tracking units 32can be mounted in suitable locations about the facility, includingeither to walls or ceilings. The density of the second tracking units 32distributed in the facility 22 can be adjusted according to intendedcleaning operations desired to be monitored within the facility.

In embodiments, any suitable tracking units can be used. For example, inembodiments, suitable first and second tracking units 31, 32 can be usedthat are configured to communicate over one or more of Bluetooth, Wi-Fi,near field communication, and RFID arrangements. In one embodiment, thefirst tracking unit 31 is configured to generate a Bluetooth radio waveon a frequency between 2.402 GHz and 2.480 GHz, and the second trackingunits 32 each comprises a Bluetooth beacon.

In embodiments, beacons 32 attached to the wall are used to track thelocation of the cleaning apparatus 25 within the facility. Inembodiments, beacons 32 comprise any suitable device, such as a small,battery-operated unit that does not require any external wiring. Inembodiments, the beacons 25 transmit their location via Bluetoothsignals. A first tracking unit 31 attached to the cleaning apparatus 25can be used to trigger the beacon 32 when the cleaning apparatus 25 isin the operating range of the beacon 32 to monitor the location of thecleaning apparatus within the facility 22.

Details on floor conditions and cleaning performed can be sent to acloud-based platform. The beacons 32 can connect to a Wi-Fi network inthe facility via a bridge 35 that can be tied into the electrical supplyof the facility 22 (e.g., via a plug-and-receptacle connection or ahard-wired connection). The communication bridge 35 can be configured toreceive location data from the beacons 32 and to transmit the locationdata to the processor 30. In embodiments, the bridge can be poweredusing the electrical supply found in the facility 22 (e.g., a standardwall receptacle).

The processor 30 is in operable arrangement with the second trackingunits 32 to receive the location data and in operable arrangement withthe non-transitory, computer-readable medium 29. The processor 30 isconfigured to execute the floor condition tracking program contained onthe non-transitory computer-readable medium 29. The floor conditiontracking program includes a tracking module configured to analyze thelocation data from the second tracking units 32 to determine whether apredetermined cleaning operation was performed within a specified timeschedule.

In embodiments, the tracking module of the floor condition trackingprogram is configured, in response to determining a cleaning operationwas not performed with the time schedule, to generate and send anelectronic alert message 40 to at least one recipient to alert therecipient that the cleaning operation did not occur according to thetime schedule. An example of such an alert 40 is shown in FIG. 1. Inembodiments, in the event that a threshold value is met, an alertmessage can also be sent to a manager (e.g., via a text message or anemail message).

In embodiments, the tracking device 31 mounted to the cleaning apparatus25 is adapted to interact with the beacons 32 in the facility 22 tomonitor the location and movement of the cleaning apparatus 25throughout the facility. In use, the cleaning apparatus 25 can betracked by the system 21 to monitor that the operators are performingthe designated cleaning operations in different areas of the facility 22according to the designated cleaning schedule. For example, inembodiments, the tracking assembly 27 comprises an RFID tracking system,with tags that can be attached to a cleaning head of a cleaningapparatus in the form of a deck brush and submersible in water.

The system 21 is adapted to generate cleaning data that can be used torecord when the cleaning apparatus 25 is in motion. This can be recordedin different areas of a restaurant or other facility 22.

Referring to FIG. 2, information can be sent from the tracking device 31of the cleaning apparatus 25 directly to the cloud 45 without any manualinput. This also reduces the risk of human error and false reporting.The location is verified with beacons and the time and worker detailsare also automatically captured.

A mobile app for use on a portable device 47 (e.g., a smartphone) can beprovided to allow an authorized user to access the cleaning data storedin the cloud 45. The cloud 45 can store a log of readings by time,operator, and location. The mobile app can be programmed to issue analert if a slippery floor surface is detected or if a scheduled cleaningoperation is not performed.

Referring to FIG. 3, each operator can be issued a user identificationdevice 43. The user identification device 43 can be configured totransmit an identification signal 47 configured to identify which one ofa plurality of operators is associated with the user identificationdevice 43.

The system 21 can also include an identification reader 45. Inembodiments, the identification reader 45 can be associated with thecleaning apparatus 25. The identification reader 45 can be configured tointeract with the user identification device 43 to receive theidentification signal 47 from the user identification device 43 and totransmit the identification signal 47 to the processor 30. The trackingmodule of the floor condition tracking program can be configured toassociate the location data received from the cleaning apparatus 25 tothe operator associated with the identification signal 47 received fromthe identification reader 45.

In embodiments, each operator is provided with a small badge whichcommunicates by RFID. Workers scan their badge over the sensor toidentify themselves before performing the cleaning or taking a frictionreading. Their worker ID is transmitted along with the readings theytake (along with the location, time and sensor serial number).

RFID tags confirm the identity of the worker who is conducting thecleaning or taking the friction reading. In embodiments, the workerfirst scans their ID badge (with integrated RFID) on a small reader thatis on the cleaning device to associate their identity with the use ofthe particular cleaning device. In embodiments, a location-driveninspection log can be generated at the facility using the worker IDdevice to provide confirmation of adherence to the predeterminedcleaning schedule. In embodiments, any suitable device can be used as aworker ID device. For example, any suitable wearable device can be usedthat can be worn on wrists, vests, or in shoe soles.

Referring to FIG. 4, in embodiments, the system 21 can be used tomonitor for hazards and potential slip conditions. The operators can usethe beacons to automatically document and time stamp their inspection ofmajor areas by ‘tapping’ beacons to verify they actually checked thearea for hazards. The beacons are distributed throughout the facility22. The operator triggers a respective beacon in a designated locationwith the appropriate cleaning apparatus or other equipment, thereby timeand date stamping the performed operation. The inspection log can beautomatically updated to a secure cloud-based data vault. The log datacan be retrieved for verification of operational standards and evidenceof reasonable care, such as when defending a claim in a lawsuit.

FIG. 5 is a view of an embodiment of a graphical user interface 50suitable for use with a floor condition tracking application constructedaccording to principles of the present disclosure. In the illustrateddisplay 50, a series of proximity readings taken by a beacon withrespect to the location tracking device 31 mounted to the cleaningapparatus 25 is displayed.

FIG. 6 is a view of another embodiment of a graphical user interface 51suitable for use with a floor condition tracking application constructedaccording to principles of the present disclosure. In the illustrateddisplay 51, dashboard details determined by a floor condition trackingapplication constructed according to principles of the presentdisclosure are displayed including: tracked cleaning time in which thecleaning apparatus 25 was being moved about the facility 22; the areasof the facility 22 over which the cleaning apparatus 25 was moved duringthe cleaning time; a cleaning score computed based upon the values of atleast one of cleaning time and cleaning area in relation to apredetermined formula, and a trajectory of the facility's cleaning indexperformance over time.

FIG. 7 is a view of another embodiment of a graphical user interface 52suitable for use with a floor condition tracking application constructedaccording to principles of the present disclosure. In the illustratedembodiment, dashboard details determined by a floor condition trackingapplication constructed according to principles of the presentdisclosure are displayed including: the tracked cleaning start time, thetracked cleaning end time, and a pictorial representation of the areasin the facility 22 cleaned during the cleaning time.

FIG. 8 is a view of still another embodiment of a graphical userinterface 53 suitable for use with a floor condition trackingapplication constructed according to principles of the presentdisclosure. In the illustrated embodiment, dashboard details determinedby a floor condition tracking application constructed according toprinciples of the present disclosure for a number of facilitiesdistributed over a geographical region (e.g., over the United States ofAmerica) are displayed. The dashboard view shown in FIG. 8 can provide asnapshot of data for a series of facilities 22. In embodiments, each dotrepresents a predetermined geographical area containing multiplefacilities or a given facility. Each area/facility can be double clickedto launch a separate window displaying detailed cleaning data for theselected area/facility. The aggregated cleaning data can be used to helpdetermine information, such as, metrics indicating failure points,period-over-period trends, and forecasts for mean time before failureinformation, for example.

In embodiments, the cleaning apparatus can have any suitableconfiguration as one skilled in the art will appreciate. For example, inembodiments, the cleaning apparatus can be in the form of a deck brush60 with a tracking device 61 mounted thereto under a protective layer 62(see, e.g., FIGS. 9 and 10). In embodiments, the deck 64 can havebristles 65 attached thereto that are configured for performing acleaning operation. In embodiments, the bristles 65 can be made from anysuitable material, such as, any combination of ferrous wire, nonferrouswire, plastic, abrasive filaments, vegetable fibers, animal hair, orother materials known to those skilled in the art.

Referring to FIG. 11, in embodiments, the cleaning apparatus can be inthe form of a powered, walk-behind sweeper 70, such as thosecommercially-available from Tennant Co. of Minneapolis, Minn., or GlobalIndustrial of Port Washington, N.Y., for example. In embodiments, thecleaning apparatus 70 includes a first tracking unit 71, a motiondetector 72, and a communication device 73. The first tracking unit 71can be configured to interact with the second tracking units 74distributed throughout the facility in order to provide location data tothe floor condition tracking program as previously described.

The motion detector 72 is configured to detect movement of the cleaningapparatus 70 upon a surface within the facility during a cleaningoperation. The motion detector 72 is configured to generate a motionsignal indicative of the movement of the cleaning apparatus 70 upon thesurface.

The communication device 73 is in electrical communication with themotion detector 72 to receive the motion signal. The communicationdevice 73 is configured to transmit the motion signal to the processor77. The tracking module of the floor condition tracking program isconfigured to analyze the motion signal to determine whether thecleaning operation has been performed within the specified timeschedule.

In embodiments, the cleaning apparatus can include a motion detector 72in the form of an accelerometer. The accelerometer can be configured todetect the movement of the cleaning apparatus to generate a signalindicative of such movement. The accelerometer signal can be acquired bythe beacons 74 and/or the bridge for transmission to the computingenvironment. In embodiments, the cleaning apparatus 70 is configured toreport its location to a mobile app and cloud service based on theaccelerometer 72 readings. The sensor 72 can measure movement and beused to monitor how long the cleaning apparatus 70 is being used. Inembodiments, a tracking device can be included that is configured todetect and capture movement, time and number of brush strokes (inembodiments in which the cleaning apparatus includes a brush head).

FIG. 12 is a view of an embodiment of a graphical user interface 81suitable for use with a floor condition tracking application constructedaccording to principles of the present disclosure. In the illustratedembodiment, a series of movement readings taken by the accelerometer 72mounted to the cleaning apparatus 70 is shown.

In embodiments, the cleaning apparatus can include a sensor that isadapted to measure the condition of the floor. In embodiments, thecleaning apparatus includes a sensor and a communication device. Thesensor is configured to measure a condition of a surface upon which thecleaning apparatus moves. The sensor is configured to generate acondition signal indicative of the condition measured by the sensor. Thecommunication device is in electrical communication with the sensor toreceive the condition signal. The communication device is configured totransmit the condition signal to the processor. The floor conditiontracking program includes a floor condition module configured todetermine whether a parameter of the surface is within a predeterminedrange based upon the condition signal.

In embodiments, the sensor is configured to measure a friction conditionof the surface upon which the cleaning apparatus moves. The floorcondition module can include a computer executable calculation codesegment configured to determine a coefficient of friction encountered bythe cleaning apparatus moving upon the surface based upon the conditionsignal received from the sensor.

For example, in embodiments, the sensor is configured to measure thedynamic coefficient of friction of the floor surface over which thecleaning apparatus is moving. This dynamic coefficient of friction is avalue that describe the ability of the surfaces to resist the sliding orslipping of an object across the surface. In general, the lower thecoefficient of friction, the more slippery it can be considered. Inembodiments, the system can be configured to obtain measurements formthe tracking device that can be used to compute a dynamic coefficient offriction that correlates to one computed via the Dynamic Coefficient ofFriction (DCOF) method in ANSI A137.1, the American National StandardSpecifications for Ceramic Tile.

In embodiments, the cleaning apparatus can include a sensor in the formof a strain sensor. The strain sensor can be arranged with the cleaningapparatus such that the strain sensor is configured to measure aresistance encountered by the cleaning apparatus as the cleaningapparatus moves upon the surface. The strain sensor can be configured tomeasure the level of effort (tension) needed to move the cleaning devicelaterally over the floor. This measured strain can correspond to thecoefficient of friction. The strain sensor can be configured to generatea strain signal indicative of the measured resistance. In embodiments,the strain sensor readings can be transmitted to a mobile app and alsoto a cloud based reporting service. In embodiments, the computingenvironment includes a floor condition tracking program that is adaptedto determine a friction coefficient based upon the strain sensorreadings. The floor condition tracking program can include a calculationcode segment configured to determine a dynamic coefficient of frictionencountered by the cleaning apparatus moving upon the surface based uponthe strain signal received from the strain sensor.

In embodiments, a cleaning apparatus constructed according to principlesof the present disclosure can include a scrubbing member, a sensor, anda communication device. The sensor is configured to measure a conditionof a surface upon which the scrubbing member moves. The sensor isconfigured to generate a condition signal indicative of the conditionmeasured by the sensor. The communication device is in electricalcommunication with the sensor to receive the condition signal. Thecommunication device is configured to transmit the condition signal to aremote receiver. In embodiments, the sensor is configured to measure afriction condition of the surface upon which scrubbing member moves.

In embodiments, the cleaning apparatus includes a motion detector. Themotion detector is configured to detect movement of the scrubbing memberupon the surface. The motion detector is configured to generate a motionsignal indicative of the movement of the scrubbing member upon thesurface. The communication device is in electrical communication withthe motion detector to receive the motion signal. The communicationdevice is configured to transmit the motion signal to a remote receiver.In embodiments, the motion detector is an accelerometer.

In embodiments, the cleaning apparatus can be used to measure thesurface friction coefficient to determine how slippery a floor surfaceis and to provide metrics that help facility managers determine whethertheir implemented cleaning procedures have improved the condition of thefloor. An operator can use the slip meter to measure friction of thefloor at pre-set locations and times. The floor condition data can bestored in a cloud-based storage. Data can be displayed on a dashboardfor the time period selected. Measurement intervals can be varied indifferent embodiments (e.g., hourly, daily, weekly, and/or monthly).When a condition is detected that breach a threshold value, an automaticmessage can be generated and sent to selected managers for real timecorrective action.

An example of a cleaning apparatus 80 with a sensor configured todetermine the condition of the floor by assessing its coefficient offriction is shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. Referring to FIG. 13 a scrubbingmember of the cleaning apparatus 90 is shown that includes an on/offswitch 91, a charging cord 92, a battery 93 (or other suitable powersource), an accelerometer 94 to measure and detect movement and speed, aBluetooth beacon 95 to determine the location of the cleaning apparatus90 in the facility. The cleaning apparatus 90 includes a strain sensor97 adapted to measure the resistance encountered by the cleaningapparatus 90 as it moves along the floor and a base plate 98 to protectthe strain sensor 97. In embodiments, the base plate 98 can be made fromany suitable material, such as a suitable acrylic, for example.

The strain sensor 97 is configured to be stretched as the cleaningapparatus 90 is moved over the floor via the sensor foot 99. The amountof stretch detected by the strain sensor is proportional to the frictionthat the cleaning apparatus 90 encounters on the floor. A floorcondition tracking program constructed according to principles of thepresent disclosure can be used to determine a value for the dynamiccoefficient of friction of the flooring surface over which the cleaningapparatus is travelling.

The strain sensor 97 is configured to measure a condition of a surfaceupon which the scrubbing member moves. The strain sensor 97 isconfigured to generate a condition signal indicative of the conditionmeasured by the sensor. In the illustrated embodiment, the strain sensor97 is configured to measure a resistance encountered by the scrubbingmember as the scrubbing member moves along a surface being cleaned. Thestrain sensor 97 is configured to generate a strain signal indicative ofthe resistance

The beacon 95 is in electrical communication with the strain sensor 97to receive the condition signal. The beacon 95 is configured to transmitthe condition signal to a remote receiver.

The dynamic coefficient of friction is measured as the cleaningapparatus 90 is rolled along the floor. The readings from the strainsensor 97 are reported in real-time to the cloud along with time,location in facility and the identity of the person who took thereadings. This reduces the effort involved in taking readings, faultyreporting, and missed cleanings.

In embodiments, the self-contained tracking device can be in the form ofa strain sensor attached to the cleaning device being used at thefacility. The strain sensor can be adapted to continuously measure thedynamic coefficient of friction as the cleaning device moves over thefloor. The strain sensor can be disposed within a housing to helpenhance the durability of the sensor.

In embodiments, the cleaning apparatus is fitted with a sensor (e.g., astrain sensor) that produces measurements which can be correlated to thedynamic coefficient of friction on the floor's surface. It capturesdetails of the worker performing the measurement as well as the locationwithin the facility (from beacons) where the reading was taken. Itreports this information to a cloud based management service along withthe date, time and device used to take the measurement. Readings aretransmitted to a cloud based management portal through a cellularconnection. Analytics track the slipperiness of the floor and alertmanagement when attention is needed or a cleaning has been missed.

FIG. 15 is a view of an embodiment of a graphical user interface 101suitable for use with a floor condition tracking application constructedaccording to principles of the present disclosure. In the illustratedembodiment, a series of strain sensor readings 102, 103 taken by thehead of the cleaning apparatus 90 of FIG. 13 is illustrated.

FIG. 16 is a view of an embodiment of a graphical user interface 111suitable for use with a floor condition tracking application constructedaccording to principles of the present disclosure. In the illustratedembodiment, dashboard details are illustrated which were determined by afloor condition tracking application constructed according to principlesof the present disclosure including the coefficient of friction readingsdetermined by the floor condition tracking application based upon thestrain sensor readings taken by the head of the cleaning apparatus 19 ofFIG. 13 and the time when and the place where the strain sensor readingswere taken.

FIG. 17 is a view of an embodiment of a graphical user interface 121suitable for use with a floor condition tracking application constructedaccording to principles of the present disclosure. In the illustratedembodiment, an alert message is shown that was sent by the floorcondition tracking application when the floor condition trackingapplication determines an area of the floor of the facility has acoefficient of friction that is below a predetermined threshold basedupon the strain sensor readings taken by the head of the cleaningapparatus 90 of FIG. 13.

An embodiment of a slip reduction system constructed according toprinciples of the present disclosure is designed for ease of use withoutmuch training. Deployment includes installing beacons within thefacility where readings are to be taken. Workers performing thecleanings are provided with badges (with unique RFIDs) that are used toidentify which one of them is performed a particular cleaning operation.Store cleaning schedules are entered in a web-based form. Samplefriction readings can be obtained where the flooring surface is dry tocalibrate the system.

Flooring materials can be selected that have a low-slip classificationto stand up to continuous risk of oil, grease and water spillages. Inembodiments, the flooring has a minimum surface roughness level of 70microns. In embodiments, the flooring design and material can vary basedon conditions and expected usage.

Standardized floor surface cleaning methods can be developed. Thetracking device of the cleaning apparatus can be used to monitor thateach operator follows the standardized floor surface cleaning methoddeveloped for each area of the facility. The cleaning device includes atracking device that interacts with beacons mounted at variouslocations/various checkpoints around the store. In embodiments, thecheckpoints can comprise any suitable device, such as, a magnetic strip,a proximity microchip, such as RFIDs or NFC, or an optical barcode, forexample. The tracking device mounted to the cleaning apparatus can beused to provide evidence of a cleaning regime and real-time feedback viadashboard or text message.

Procedures for dealing with spills can be developed and deployed whenthe coefficient of friction reading taken by the cleaning apparatusdrops below a predetermined value.

Embodiments of a kit for reducing the occurrence of slipping on a floorsurface constructed according to principles of the present disclosurecan include a tracking device (to monitor cleaning and/or to measure thedynamic coefficient of friction), a plurality of beacons (e.g., three)to indicate location of the cleaning apparatus within the facility, anda floor condition tracking program stored on a non-transitory, tangiblecomputer-readable medium. The kit can be configured to operate via acellular connection—independent of the Wi-Fi network at the facility.This makes it faster and easier to deploy without the need for onsitevisits. The kit can be drop shipped.

In embodiments, the tracking device can be attached to the cleaningapparatus that is already located onsite at the facility as a retrofit.In embodiments, the beacons comprise wireless (Bluetooth) beacons thatare “stick-on” adhesive layer for ready attachment to a wall in thefacility and do not require any wiring.

In embodiments, the kit includes identification cards with a uniqueidentifier (e.g., a RFID) that is configured to identify which one ofthe workers at the facility is performing a particular cleaningoperation. In embodiments, the kit includes a cellular hub to transmitdata to the cloud and an account on the cloud-based management consolethat is associated with the particular facility receiving the kit.

In embodiments, the computing environment includes a suitable userinterface adapted for entry of contact details (for alerts) andauthorized worker information for a given facility. In embodiments, theinterface is adapted to allow the facility manager to enter details oncleaning schedules and acceptable floor conditions (e.g., cleaningfrequency and friction readings for different areas of the facility). Inembodiments, the computing environment includes a floor conditiontracking program that is adapted to issue an alert when the coefficientof friction measured by the cleaning apparatus is below a predeterminedlimit and report floor degradation over time.

In embodiments, the computing system includes a mobile app that isadapted to allow management to query a cloud-based console and to obtainalerts. The mobile app can be configured to perform tracing functionsand to provide motivating messages for regularly cleaning the facilityaccording to the determined cleaning schedule.

Parameters can be defined when cleanings have to be performed and wherethey should be performed within the facility. The cloud based managementconsole makes sure those readings are received at the correct time. If areading is not received, an alert can be sent by email or SMS to thestore manager. In embodiments, an alert is are sent to management if thefloor conditions require attention.

The computing environment is adapted to preserve records in a datastorage device for later use, such as for management reports. Inembodiments, the computing environment is adapted to allow formanagement reporting over multiple stores in different locations. Inembodiments, the computing environment can include different reportinglevels for different users (e.g., facility manager and regionalexecutive management over a number of facilities).

Management reports can be configured by manager, location, facility orregion. The data generated by the system can be used to support analysisover extended periods of time.

In embodiments, the computing environment includes graphical reportingcapability/management dashboard features. In embodiments, the computingenvironment includes a security system to ensure data is protected andall user access is authenticated.

In embodiments, the computing environment includes extended access tocloud based data from a console and mobile access to also export throughan API (Application Program Interface). The stored data can be importedinto spreadsheets or other programs. Real time data reporting and alertscan be collected and displayed in a useful format, data feeds can bemade available. Customizations can be made to provide roll up reportingof facility data.

In embodiments of a method of monitoring the cleaning conditions of afacility following principles of the present disclosure, a facilitysubscribes to a slip reduction service and receives a kit with thecomponents to monitor and report both the cleaning operations occurringat the facility and the measurements of how slippery the floor is. Thisinformation is transmitted via a cellular connection to a cloud basedservice. Details of reading from the store are kept in the cloud formanagement. This information is used to generate alerts when cleaningoperations have not been performed according to a predetermined scheduleand/or if the floor condition should be checked due to a low coefficientof friction reading. It can also be used to respond to claims andmonitor the overall cleanliness of stores.

Referring to FIG. 18, an embodiment of a computing environment 150 isshown that includes a floor condition tracking program 152 constructedaccording to principles of the present disclosure. In the illustratedembodiment, an operator 193 located at a facility and a manager 192(either located at the facility or at an offsite location) can be incommunication with the computing environment via an external network190.

The floor condition tracking program 152 can be stored on anon-transitory, tangible computer-readable medium. The computingenvironment 150 constitutes a computer-implemented system for monitoringthe cleaning conditions of at least one facility. In embodiments, thecomputing environment 150 can receive data from cleaning devices 191deployed at a variety of locations distributed over a larger geographicregion. The computing environment 150 can include a number of computersystems, which generally can include any type of computer system basedon: a microprocessor, a mainframe computer, a digital signal processor,a portable computing device, a personal organizer, a device controller,or a computational engine within an appliance. In some embodiments, thecomputer environment 150 is implemented in one or more electronicdevices that are located in one or more locations.

The illustrated computing environment 150 can include a client 154, aninternal network 156, at least one cleanliness monitoring processor 158operating the floor condition tracking program 152, a data storagedevice 160, an output device 170, and a web server 180 operativelyconnected to the external network 190. The client 154, the cleanlinessmonitoring processor 158, the data storage device 160, the output device170, and the web server 180 are operatively connected together via theinternal network 156. The cleanliness monitoring processor 158 can bespecially programmed with the floor condition tracking program 152 totrack and log the cleaning operations occurring at one or morefacilities, to issue an alert to the manager 192 in the event that anoperating parameter sensed by the cleaning apparatus 191 falls outsideof an acceptable range, and to determine a cleaning index based upon thedata the cleaning apparatus sends to the computing environment via thebridge 195.

At least one web client 190 can use the computing environment 150 tointerface with the computing environment 150. For example, a manager 192can use the web client 190 to receive information from, and to transmitinformation to, the computing environment 150 about the cleaningrequirements of a given facility that is the subject of the cleanlinessmonitoring. The cleaning apparatus 191 and/or associated beacons at thefacility can use a suitable bridge 195 to transmit cleaning parameterdata from the facility for use by the floor condition tracking program152. In some embodiments, a plurality of facilities can use other webclient(s) to communicate with the floor condition tracking program 152over the external network 190. In other embodiments, a differentcommunication channel can be established between the facility, themanager, etc. and the floor condition tracking program 152 to transmitdata feeds to the floor condition tracking program 152.

The client 154 can be used to communicate with an authorized user 177,for example, to enter cleaning parameter conditional requirements andcriteria into the data storage device 160, to communicate with the webclients 190, and/or to execute the floor condition tracking program 152.The client 154 can comprise at least one input device. The client 154can generally include any node on a network including computationalcapability and including a mechanism for communicating across thenetwork 156.

In one embodiment, the client 154 hosts an application front end of thefloor condition tracking program 152. The application front end cangenerally include any component of the floor condition tracking program152 that can receive input from the user 177 or the client 154,communicate the input to the floor condition tracking program 152,receive output from the floor condition tracking program 152, andpresent the output to the user 177 and/or the client 154. In oneembodiment, the application front end can be a stand-alone system.

The network 156 can generally include any type of wired or wirelesscommunication channel capable of coupling together computing nodes.Examples of a suitable network 156 include, but are not limited to, alocal area network, a wide area network, or a combination of networks.

The cleanliness monitoring processor 158 is in operable arrangement withthe non-transitory, computer readable medium upon which the floorcondition tracking program 152 is stored so as to be able to operate theprogram 152. The cleanliness monitoring processor 158 is configured toexecute the floor condition tracking program 152 contained on thecomputer-readable medium. The cleanliness monitoring processor 158 cangenerally include any computational node including a mechanism forservicing requests from a client for computational resources, datastorage resources, or a combination of computational and data storageresources. Furthermore, the cleanliness monitoring processor 158 cangenerally include any system that can host the floor condition trackingprogram 152. The cleanliness monitoring processor 158 can generallyinclude any component of an application that can receive input from theweb client(s) 190 via the web server 180 and from the client 154 throughthe network 156, process the input, and present the output to the floorcondition tracking program 152, the client 154, the web server 180,and/or the data storage device 160. The cleanliness monitoring processor158 can generally include any component of an application that canprocess data, interact with the data storage device 160, and executelogic for the floor condition tracking program 152.

The floor condition tracking program 152 comprises a computer programproduct residing on a non-transitory, tangible computer readable mediumhaving a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executedby the cleanliness monitoring processor 158, cause the processor 158 toperform steps associated with monitoring the cleaning conditions of afacility as described herein. The floor condition tracking program 152can be any suitable computer-implemented application for processinginformation exchanged with the client 154 and/or the web clients 190,191 via a web platform such as those known to one of ordinary skill inthe art. The floor condition tracking program 152 can contain computerexecutable instructions adapted to exchange information in the form ofdata with the data storage device 160. The floor condition trackingprogram 152 can include a graphical user interface which can facilitatethe input of cleaning condition information into the floor conditiontracking program 152.

In embodiments, the floor condition tracking program 152 includes atracking module and a dynamic coefficient of friction calculationmodule. The tracking module includes a computer executable tracking codesegment configured to use the data received from the bridge 195 todetermine the cleaning activities occurring at the facility. The dynamiccoefficient of friction calculation module includes a computerexecutable calculation code segment configured to determine thecoefficient of friction encountered by the cleaning apparatus 191 whilebeing used to clean at the facility based upon the strain sensorreadings taken by the cleaning apparatus 191.

In embodiments, the floor condition tracking program 152 includes acleaning parameter information module adapted to collect cleaningrequirement information through a plurality of data fields. Inembodiments, the floor condition tracking program 152 can display agraphical user interface to one or more managers 192 via the web-enabledinterface provided by the web server 180. The graphical user interfacecan include the cleaning requirement information data fields. In otherembodiments, the floor condition tracking program 152 can include agraphical user interface that is presented to the client 154 to inputthe cleaning requirement information into the cleaning parameterinformation module.

The architecture solution of the floor condition tracking program 152 isflexible and scalable to include additional information for differentfacilities and to include additional cleaning condition informationrequirements for the various facilities. In embodiments, the floorcondition tracking program 152 includes other modules andcomputer-executable instructions adapted to carry out other steps andfeatures of a method of monitoring the cleaning conditions of a facilityfollowing principles of the present disclosure. Any suitablecomputer-readable storage medium can be utilized for the floor conditiontracking program 152, including, for example, hard drives, floppy disks,CD-ROM drives, tape drives, zip drives, flash drives, optical storagedevices, magnetic storage devices, and the like.

The data storage device 160 is in operable arrangement with thecleanliness monitoring processor 158. The database or data storagedevice 160 can generally include any type of system for storing data innon-volatile storage. This includes, but is not limited to, systemsbased upon: magnetic, optical, and magneto-optical storage devices, aswell as storage devices based on flash memory and/or battery-backed upmemory. In embodiments, the data storage device 160 is operably arrangedwith the cleanliness monitoring processor 158 and is adapted to storecleaning operation data for each facility for which the system 150 isbeing used.

In one embodiment, the database 160 contains cleaning requirement datarelating to a facility. The cleaning requirement data can include, forexample, a minimum cleaning frequency for each of a number of areas ofthe facility, a minimum cleaning time for each cleaning operationoccurring at each of the areas of the facility, and a minimumcoefficient of friction value for each of the areas of the facility(such as one based upon the particular floor surface used at each are,the expected foot traffic of each area, etc.). This information can beused by the floor condition tracking program 152 to perform a method ofmonitoring the cleaning conditions of a facility, according toprinciples of the present disclosure. In embodiments, the data storagedevice 160 can store a data warehouse that comprises a collection ofdatabases (e.g., Access, SQL). For example, the data storage device 160can contain a permission database which stores user credentials andpermissions specific to active users 177, managers 192, and others thatinteract with the computing environment 150.

The output device 170 can comprise a printer, a display monitor, and aconnection to another device, for example. The output device 170 can beused to generate reports for sending to the manager 192 and/or eachfacility which contributed to the information generated by the floorcondition tracking program 152. The output device 170 can be used togenerate reports for sending to the manager 192 and/or each facilitywhich contributed to the information generated by the floor conditiontracking program 152 about the cleaning conditions of each facilitybeing monitored. The output device 170 can be used to communicate to theuser 177 information generated by the floor condition tracking program152.

A report engine can be provided to generate displays of informationstored in the data storage device 160 concerning the cleaning conditionstracked by the system 150, which can be viewed using the output device170, for example. In one embodiment, the report engine further providespre-configured and/or ad hoc reports relating to the cleaning conditionsof each facility tracked by the system 150.

The web server 180 can provide a suitable web site or otherInternet-based graphical user interface which is accessible by themanager 192, providing cleaning condition information data feeds, forexample. The web server 180 can serve as a web-enabled interface adaptedto exchange information with multiple facilities including to receivecleaning data from each facility via a suitable bridge 195, for example.In other embodiments, other sites can be connected to the web-enabledinterface.

The web server 180 can provide access to an internet-based web platformthat includes the floor condition tracking program 152. In someembodiments, the web server 180 can be adapted to host a web site, toexecute enterprise applications, to deliver web pages and other contentupon request to web clients, and to receive content from web clients.The web client(s) 190 and the bridge 195 can be connected to the webserver 180 through the network connection 190 (e.g., Internet, Intranet,LAN, WAN and the like). The web server 180 can use an authenticationserver in order to validate and assign proper permissions to authorizedusers of the system. A permission database can store web usercredentials and permissions specific to each user, investor, agent,broker, market information source, etc. The web server 180 can beoutfitted with a firewall such that requests originating from outsidethe computing environment 150 pass through the firewall before beingreceived and processed at the web server 180.

In addition to the components discussed above, the computing environment150 can further include one or more of the following: a host server orother computing systems including a processor for processing digitaldata; a memory coupled to the processor for storing digital data; aninput digitizer coupled to the processor for inputting digital data; anapplication program stored in the memory and accessible by the processorfor directing processing of digital data by the processor; a displaydevice coupled to the processor and memory for displaying informationderived from digital data processed by the processor; and a plurality ofdatabases.

In yet other embodiments, the computing environment can include anelectronic common repository for electronic documents relating tocleaning condition information. The electronic common repository can beused by users 177, managers 192, and others according to a set ofauthorized permissions to the respective party to upload electronicdocuments generated at different times of the process.

In other embodiments, systems and methods of monitoring the cleaningconditions of a facility, can be implemented on various types ofcomputer architectures, such as for example on a single general purposecomputer or workstation, on a networked system, in a client-serverconfiguration, or in an application service provider configuration.Additionally, the methods and systems described herein may beimplemented on many different types of processing devices by programcode comprising program instructions that are executable by the deviceprocessing subsystem. The software program instructions may includesource code, object code, machine code, or any other stored data that isoperable to cause a processing system to perform methods describedherein. Other implementations may also be used, however, such asfirmware or even appropriately designed hardware configured to carry outthe methods and systems described herein.

The systems' and methods' data (e.g., associations, mappings, etc.) maybe stored and implemented in one or more different types ofcomputer-implemented ways, such as different types of storage devicesand programming constructs (e.g., data stores, RAM, ROM, flash memory,flat files, databases, programming data structures, programmingvariables, IF-THEN (or similar type) statement constructs, etc.). It isnoted that data structures describe formats for use in organizing andstoring data in databases, programs, memory, or other tangiblecomputer-readable media for use by a computer program.

The computer components, software modules, functions, data stores anddata structures described herein may be connected directly or indirectlyto each other in order to allow the flow of data needed for theiroperations. It is also noted that a module or processor can include butis not limited to a unit of code that performs a software operation, andcan be implemented, for example, as a subroutine unit of code, asoftware function unit of code, an object (as in an object-orientedparadigm) or an applet and can be implemented in a computer scriptlanguage or another type of computer code. The software componentsand/or functionality (e.g., the allocation functionality associated withthe payment election) can be located on a single computer or distributedacross multiple computers depending upon the particular circumstancessurrounding its use (e.g., located on client and/or server computers).

In various embodiments, methods of monitoring the cleaning conditions ofa facility in accordance with principles of the present disclosureoperate as software programming operating on a computer processor.Dedicated hardware implementations, including, but not limited to,application-specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays andother hardware devices, can likewise be constructed to implement themethods described herein. Furthermore, alternative softwareimplementations, including, but not limited to, distributed processingor component/object distributed processing, parallel processing, orvirtual machine processing, can also be constructed to implement themethods described herein.

In various embodiments, a floor condition tracking program in accordancewith principles of the present disclosure can take the form of acomputer program product on a non-transitory, tangible computer-readablestorage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied inthe storage medium. Software implementations of the techniques formonitoring the cleaning conditions of a facility as described herein canbe stored on any suitable tangible storage medium, such as: a magneticmedium such as a disk or tape; a magneto-optical or optical medium suchas a disk; or a solid state medium such as a memory card or otherpackage that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile) memories,random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile) memories. Adigital file attachment to email or other self-contained informationarchive or set of archives is considered a distribution mediumequivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, a non-transitory,tangible storage medium includes a distribution medium andart-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the softwareimplementations herein are stored.

Additionally, embodiments of a floor condition tracking program 152stored upon a non-transitory, computer-readable medium followingprinciples of the present disclosure contain a plurality of instructionswhich, when executed by the cleanliness monitoring processor 158, causethe processor 158 to perform steps associated with monitoring thecleaning conditions of a facility following principles of the presentdisclosure. In embodiments, the floor condition tracking program 152stored upon a non-transitory, computer-readable medium can be configuredto carry out any embodiment of a method of monitoring the cleaningconditions of a facility following principles of the present disclosure.In embodiment, the cleanliness monitoring processor 158 is adapted toexecute the programming stored upon the non-transitory computer readablemedium to perform various methods, processes, and modes of operations ina manner following principles of the present disclosure.

In embodiments of a method of monitoring the cleaning conditions of afacility following principles of the present disclosure, a systemaccording to principles of the present disclosure can be used to monitorthe cleaning conditions of a facility. In embodiments, a method ofmonitoring the cleaning conditions of a facility following principles ofthe present disclosure includes employing a processor to executecomputer executable instructions stored on a tangible computer-readablemedium to perform a step of periodically determining a dynamiccoefficient of friction encountered by the cleaning apparatus 191 as itperforms a cleaning operation. In embodiments, the method includesmonitoring at least one of the location of the cleaning apparatus withinthe facility, the movement of the cleaning apparatus about the facility,and the dynamic coefficient of friction encountered by the cleaningapparatus as it traverses over a flooring surface during a cleaningoperation.

In one embodiment of a method of monitoring a cleaning condition of afacility following principles of the present disclosure, a cleaningapparatus is moved upon a surface within the facility. A sensor is usedto measure a condition of the surface upon which the cleaning apparatusis moving. The sensor generates a condition signal indicative of thecondition measured by the sensor. The condition signal is transmitted toa processor. The processor is used to execute computer executableinstructions stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium todetermine whether a parameter of the surface is within a predeterminedrange based upon the condition signal.

In embodiments, the sensor is a strain sensor. The strain sensor isarranged with the cleaning apparatus such that the strain sensor isconfigured to measure a resistance encountered by the cleaning apparatusas the cleaning apparatus moves upon the surface. The strain sensorgenerates a strain signal indicative of the resistance. The processordetermines whether the parameter of the surface is within thepredetermined range by calculating a dynamic coefficient of frictionencountered by the cleaning apparatus moving upon the surface based uponthe strain signal generated by the strain sensor.

In embodiments, the method further includes monitoring movement of thecleaning apparatus within the facility using a tracking assembly. Thetracking assembly includes a first tracking unit and a plurality ofsecond tracking units. The first tracking unit is mounted to thecleaning apparatus. The second tracking units are located in spacedrelationship to each other within the facility.

Each second tracking unit interacts with the first tracking unit todetect when the cleaning apparatus is within a detection area of therespective second tracking unit. The second tracking units transmit tothe processor location data concerning the cleaning apparatus based uponthe location signal received from the first tracking unit. The processorexecutes computer executable instructions stored on the non-transitorycomputer-readable medium to determine the location of the cleaningapparatus within the facility over time. The method can include usingthe processor to execute computer executable instructions stored on thenon-transitory computer-readable medium to determine whether apredetermined cleaning operation was performed by the cleaning apparatuswithin a specified time schedule based upon the determined location ofthe cleaning apparatus within the facility over time.

In embodiments, a method of monitoring a cleaning condition of afacility following principles of the present disclosure includesmonitoring for the regular practice of cleaning operations according toa predetermined schedule and/or cleaning regime. In embodiments,cleaning operations are substantially continuously monitored to helpprovide more accurate records and reduce the occurrence of slip-and-fallaccidents.

In embodiments, a method of monitoring a cleaning condition of afacility following principles of the present disclosure includeslogging, via the computing environment, the identity of the operatorperforming the cleaning operation in a database of cleaning data.

In embodiments, a method of monitoring a cleaning condition of afacility following principles of the present disclosure includes issuingan alert message, via the computing environment, when a specifiedcleaning operation has not been performed by a given time (or within agiven frequency) and/or within a given area of the facility. Inembodiments, the computing environment issues an alert message when itdetermines, based upon floor condition data received from the cleaningapparatus, the floor condition falls outside of a specified acceptablerange (e.g., the measured dynamic coefficient of friction falls below apredetermined value for that particular area of the facility).

All references, including publications, patent applications, andpatents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the sameextent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicatedto be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entiretyherein.

The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and similar referents in thecontext of describing the invention (especially in the context of thefollowing claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and theplural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted bycontext. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing”are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, butnot limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. Recitation of ranges of valuesherein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referringindividually to each separate value falling within the range, unlessotherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated intothe specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methodsdescribed herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwiseindicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The useof any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”)provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the inventionand does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unlessotherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construedas indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice ofthe invention.

Preferred embodiments of this invention are described herein, includingthe best mode known to the inventors for carrying out the invention.Variations of those preferred embodiments may become apparent to thoseof ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. Theinventors expect skilled artisans to employ such variations asappropriate, and the inventors intend for the invention to be practicedotherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, thisinvention includes all modifications and equivalents of the subjectmatter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicablelaw. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements in allpossible variations thereof is encompassed by the invention unlessotherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for monitoring a cleaning condition of afacility, the system comprising: a cleaning apparatus; a trackingassembly, the tracking assembly configured to monitor movement of thecleaning apparatus within the facility, the tracking assembly includinga first tracking unit and a plurality of second tracking units, thefirst tracking unit associated with the cleaning apparatus, the firsttracking unit configured to wirelessly emit a location signal, and thesecond tracking units located in spaced relationship to each otherwithin the facility, each second tracking unit configured to interactwith the first tracking unit to detect when the cleaning apparatus iswithin a detection area of the respective second tracking unit, thesecond tracking units configured to transmit location data concerningthe cleaning apparatus; a non-transitory computer-readable medium, thenon-transitory computer-readable medium bearing a floor conditiontracking program; a processor, the processor in operable arrangementwith the second tracking units to receive the location data therefromand in operable arrangement with the non-transitory, computer-readablemedium, the processor configured to execute the floor condition trackingprogram contained on the non-transitory computer-readable medium;wherein the floor condition tracking program includes a tracking moduleconfigured to analyze the location data from the second tracking unitsto determine whether a predetermined cleaning operation was performedwithin a specified time schedule.
 2. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising: a user identification device, the user identification deviceconfigured to transmit an identification signal configured to identifywhich one of a plurality of operators is associated with the useridentification device; an identification reader, the identificationreader associated with the cleaning apparatus, the identification readerconfigured to interact with the user identification device to receivethe identification signal from the user identification device and totransmit the identification signal to the processor; wherein thetracking module of the floor condition tracking program is configured toassociate the location data received from the cleaning apparatus to theoperator associated with the identification signal received from theidentification reader.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the trackingmodule of the floor condition tracking program is configured, inresponse to determining a cleaning operation was not performed with thetime schedule, to generate and send an electronic alert message to atleast one recipient to alert the recipient that the cleaning operationdid not occur according to the time schedule.
 4. The system of claim 1,wherein the first tracking unit is configured to generate a Bluetoothradio wave on a frequency between 2.402 GHz and 2.480 GHz, and thesecond tracking units each comprises a Bluetooth beacon.
 5. The systemof claim 4, further comprising: a communication bridge, thecommunication bridge configured to receive location data from thebeacons and to transmit the location data to the processor.
 6. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the cleaning apparatus includes a motiondetector and a communication device, the motion detector configured todetect movement of the cleaning apparatus upon a surface within thefacility during a cleaning operation, the motion detector configured togenerate a motion signal indicative of the movement of the cleaningapparatus upon the surface, and the communication device being inelectrical communication with the motion detector to receive the motionsignal, the communication device configured to transmit the motionsignal to the processor, and wherein the tracking module of the floorcondition tracking program is configured to analyze the motion signal todetermine whether the cleaning operation has been performed within thespecified time schedule.
 7. The system of claim 6, further comprising: auser identification device, the user identification device configured totransmit an identification signal configured to identify which one of aplurality of operators is associated with the user identificationdevice; an identification reader, the identification reader associatedwith the cleaning apparatus, the identification reader configured tointeract with the user identification device to receive theidentification signal from the user identification device and totransmit the identification signal to the processor; wherein thetracking module of the floor condition tracking program is configured toassociate the location data and the motion signal received from thecleaning apparatus to the operator associated with the identificationsignal received from the identification reader.
 8. The system of claim1, wherein the cleaning apparatus includes a sensor and a communicationdevice, the sensor configured to measure a condition of a surface uponwhich the cleaning apparatus moves, the sensor configured to generate acondition signal indicative of the condition measured by the sensor, andthe communication device in electrical communication with the sensor toreceive the condition signal, the communication device configured totransmit the condition signal to the processor, and wherein the floorcondition tracking program includes a floor condition module, the floorcondition module configured to determine whether a parameter of thesurface is within a predetermined range based upon the condition signal.9. The system of claim 8, wherein the sensor is configured to measure afriction condition of the surface upon which the cleaning apparatusmoves, and the floor condition module includes a computer executablecalculation code segment configured to determine a coefficient offriction encountered by the cleaning apparatus moving upon the surfacebased upon the condition signal received from the sensor.
 10. The systemof claim 9, wherein the sensor comprises a strain sensor, the strainsensor arranged with the cleaning apparatus such that the strain sensoris configured to measure a resistance encountered by the cleaningapparatus as the cleaning apparatus moves upon the surface, the strainsensor configured to generate a strain signal indicative of theresistance, and wherein the calculation code segment is configured todetermine a dynamic coefficient of friction encountered by the cleaningapparatus moving upon the surface based upon the strain signal receivedfrom the strain sensor.
 11. A method of monitoring a cleaning conditionof a facility, the method comprising: moving a cleaning apparatus upon asurface within the facility; using a sensor to measure a condition ofthe surface upon which the cleaning apparatus is moving, the sensorgenerating a condition signal indicative of the condition measured bythe sensor; transmitting the condition signal to a processor; using theprocessor to execute computer executable instructions stored on anon-transitory computer-readable medium to determine whether a parameterof the surface is within a predetermined range based upon the conditionsignal.
 12. The method of monitoring according to claim 11, wherein thesensor comprises a strain sensor, the strain sensor arranged with thecleaning apparatus such that the strain sensor is configured to measurea resistance encountered by the cleaning apparatus as the cleaningapparatus moves upon the surface, the strain sensor generating a strainsignal indicative of the resistance, and the processor determineswhether the parameter of the surface is within the predetermined rangeby calculating a dynamic coefficient of friction encountered by thecleaning apparatus moving upon the surface based upon the strain signalgenerated by the strain sensor.
 13. The method of monitoring accordingto claim 12, further comprising: monitoring movement of the cleaningapparatus within the facility using a tracking assembly, the trackingassembly including a first tracking unit and a plurality of secondtracking units, the first tracking unit associated with the cleaningapparatus, and the second tracking units located in spaced relationshipto each other within the facility, wherein: each second tracking unitinteracts with the first tracking unit to detect when the cleaningapparatus is within a detection area of the respective second trackingunit, the second tracking units transmit to the processor location dataconcerning the cleaning apparatus based upon the location signalreceived from the first tracking unit, and the processor executescomputer executable instructions stored on the non-transitorycomputer-readable medium to determine the location of the cleaningapparatus within the facility over time; using the processor to executecomputer executable instructions stored on the non-transitorycomputer-readable medium to determine whether a predetermined cleaningoperation was performed by the cleaning apparatus within a specifiedtime schedule based upon the determined location of the cleaningapparatus within the facility over time.
 14. A cleaning apparatuscomprising: a scrubbing member; a sensor, the sensor configured tomeasure a condition of a surface upon which the scrubbing member moves,the sensor configured to generate a condition signal indicative of thecondition measured by the sensor; a communication device, thecommunication device in electrical communication with the sensor toreceive the condition signal, the communication device configured totransmit the condition signal to a remote receiver.
 15. The cleaningapparatus of claim 14, wherein the sensor is configured to measure afriction condition of the surface upon which scrubbing member moves. 16.The cleaning apparatus of claim 15, wherein the sensor comprises astrain sensor, the strain sensor arranged with the scrubbing member suchthat the strain sensor is configured to measure a resistance encounteredby the scrubbing member as the scrubbing member moves along a surfacebeing cleaned, the strain sensor being configured to generate a strainsignal indicative of the resistance.
 17. The cleaning apparatus of claim16, further comprising: a motion detector, the motion detectorconfigured to detect movement of the scrubbing member upon the surface,the motion detector configured to generate a motion signal indicative ofthe movement of the scrubbing member upon the surface; wherein thecommunication device is in electrical communication with the motiondetector to receive the motion signal, the communication deviceconfigured to transmit the motion signal to a remote receiver.
 18. Thecleaning apparatus of claim 17, wherein the motion detector comprises anaccelerometer.
 19. The cleaning apparatus of claim 16, furthercomprising: a tracking device, the tracking device configured towirelessly emit a location signal to a remote receiver for determining alocation of the cleaning apparatus.
 20. The cleaning apparatus of claim19, wherein the tracking device is configured to generate a Bluetoothradio wave on a frequency between 2.402 GHz and 2.480 GHz.